All Snell did was rush 2,424 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first two seasons in the SEC.

Only two other conference players have rushed for that many yards and scored that many touchdowns in their first two years — Leonard Fournette at LSU and Herschel Walker at Georgia.

Dec 29, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Benny Snell Jr. (26) leaves the field after being ejected from the game against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half of the 2017 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports(Photo: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)

And it’s not just his achievements in college that get overlooked. Snell said there were numerous times he watched other high school prospects leave camps with running back MVP awards that should have gone home with him.

“Coming into high school I was always an Ohio State guy,” said Snell, a native of Westerville, Ohio. “I wanted to be a hometown hero, but that wasn’t the case.”

Snell said that last year defenses took note and paid more attention to him — not that it stopped him from finishing with more rushing yards (1,318) than all other conference players except former Auburn Tiger Kerryon Johnson (1,320).

Tight end C.J. Conrad said Snell’s attitude is contagious. It probably helps that Snell’s deeds usually back up his words.

“We’re running the same play over, over, over again and we’re just dominating these guys,” Conrad said.

Snell's secret might not be anything special, especially when the running backs operates out of the Wildcat package.

“If he makes the wrong cut or not, he’s going to stick with that no matter what,” Conrad said. “Some guys get a little dancey and stuff.”

Last holiday season, Snell got the attention he’s been asking for, although it came in unexpected form with what Snell describes as a learning situation.

In the Music City Bowl loss to Northwestern, an official ejected Snell for unsportsmanlike conduct for contact with an official after the back appeared to refuse the official’s help getting up.

“It was a blessing in disguise because more people know who I am now because of that,” Snell said. “So it’s not all negative.”